Nicole Van Der Kaay is ready for Paris 2024

Nicole Van Der Kaay is ready for the Paris Olympics

Our local Taupo triathlete Nicole Van Der Kaay is proud to be on the New Zealand squad heading to Paris. The 28-year-old will take part in the individual competition on July 31st and be back in action five days later for the mixed team relay. The individual action will begin with a 1,500m swim in the Seine, feature a multi-lap 40km bike course that includes the cobbles of the Champs-Elyees, and finish with a 5km run under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. The short, sharp relay will see Nicole complete a 300m swim, 6.8km cycle, and 2km run as part of a two-woman, two-man team. The relay is an event where New Zealand often excels and where Nicole helped the Kiwi team to win bronze in the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

With athletes of the calibre of Olympic bronze medallist Hayden Wilde, Dylan McCullough, and the current top two ranked women in Oceania Nicole Van Der Kaay and Ainsley Thorpe, they will be hoping for more medal success in Paris. Commenting on a selection that was tinged with slight disappointment after her partner Tayler Reid just missed out on a discretionary pick for the men’s team, Nicole says: “I’m honoured to be named a part of the mighty New Zealand Olympic team. I’ll carry the fern with pride and race for those who can’t! “It’s been a long journey, lots of sacrifice and hard work. I’ve been on the road for over six months already with my new squad to prepare the best I can. I’m looking forward to giving everything I have on the day.”

Nicole has been the best placed Kiwi woman in the last three major Games including the Commonwealths (2018 and 2022) and Tokyo Olympics. A runner-up spot in the World Triathlon Championship Series in Hamburg in 2022 is her best finish in the top tier of racing to date and she will head back to the northern German city on July 13th for a final shakeout before Paris. Nicole already has experience of the Paris course having taken part in the test events for both the individual race and relay last summer. Having also competed in the Tokyo Olympic three years ago, she gained more valuable experience.

She says: “First up, I learned what the protocols and security is like. The Olympics is a massive day, but it is also just another race. It’s good to keep things as normalised as possible. Our tri team is staying out of the village to lessen noise and distractions.” It’s an achievement she couldn’t have accomplished without support. She adds: “Massive thank yous to my friends and family, without their support and understanding, I wouldn’t be here today. Of course, sponsors Asics, Suzuki, Ingham Taupo, Deboer, Rudy Project and Shokz help me day-by-day to be my best.

“We are now in the final month before Paris. I have just completed a camp in altitude in Font Romeu for over a month, and today I’m dropping down to sea level in Banyoles for my final preparations leading into both the Hamburg World Triathlon Championship Series and Paris.”
Outside of her Triathlon New Zealand support and funding, Nicole has been supported in her quest to get two her second Olympiad by Asics New Zealand and the team at Brittain Wynward, Ingham Taupo, Shokz earphones, Rudy Project helmets and eyewear, Deboer wetsuits and The Feed nutrition.

You can follow Nicole on Instagram @nicolevdkaay